She has a silver-grey trunk, is 200-years-old and unusually resilient. Betty, a mature ash tree in Norfolk, is offering hope that ash dieback disease will not be as destructive as first feared after scientists identified her “strong tolerance” to the disease. Researchers from a government-backed consortium of universities and research centres have developed three genetic…
The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) and other forest groups around the world welcome the official signing of the United Nations agreement on climate change that was reached late last year in Paris. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is among world leaders in New York for the signing ceremony. The global forest products industry has…
The Alberta government plans to rely on resources from other provinces if air-tanker companies turn down an offer to extend their newly truncated contracts when they run out in August. Both Air Spray and Conair say their contracts have been cut by 30 days this year, due to budget constraints. Their contracts will run out in…
Saskatchewan Environment Minister Herb Cox says there are “relatively normal conditions” ahead of the forest-fire season, after historic blazes last year. There was some concern earlier this year due to below-normal snowfall and generally warmer temperatures over much of northern Saskatchewan this winter. Saskatchewan also recalled firefighting crews early as it prepared for what was…
The investigation into last month’s explosion that rocked the WestPine MDF facility in Quesnel, British Columbia, is ongoing, with WorkSafeBC reporting that it may be months before a conclusion is reached. News sources report that no one was injured in the March 9 blast. Approximately 100 people worked at the mill, which produced MDF panels…
Large old trees are among the largest and longest-living organisms on earth. They occupy a revered position in the human psyche, appearing often in iconography, art, books, films, and other cultural expressions [1]. Large old trees also play key ecological and ecosystem roles, having major influences on hydrological regimes, nutrient cycles, disturbance regimes, and the…
Certifying a forest to a sustainable forest management standard is an important way for managers to assure their markets and the general public of the sustainable forestry they practice on their lands. It also helps indigenous communities ensure our values are reflected in the management of those forests. Beyond defining sustainable forest management practices, forest…
Median Salary: $104,000 Salary Growth (2009–2015): +19% Total Employees: 11,700 Change in Employees (2009–2015): +44% Job Description: This group of managers work in Canada’s natural resources sector, overseeing the operations of facilities like mines, lumber mills and fisheries. Mining and forestry managers spend some of their time outdoors inspecting ground operations. They’re responsible for hiring…
Public concern about the state of Nova Scotia’s forests is driving the government to look at cutting back on clearing trees as a means to generate electricity. While the department of natural resources laments that the general public doesn’t understand clear-cutting, the department is committing to a recommendation from the provincial auditor general to more…
Large swaths of red — meaning extreme risk — cover Alberta and Saskatchewan on the latest fire danger map from Natural Resources Canada. Many other areas are considered high or very high risk in the two Prairie provinces, where there’s been below average snowfall and above normal temperatures in much of Western Canada. Kerry Anderson, a…